Seeking configuration advice on using DxO PL8 on Macs

[Kazmarov]

I am having major performance issues with Prime and above (XD, XD2) NR features of DxO PL8 (Macbook Pro - i7, 16Gb RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 1536 MB).

Would appreciate advice on how the DxO PL8 noise reduction engines for prime XD and XD2 perform on Apple Silicon and secondly, what minimum CPU/GPU configuration would give sub 2 minute processing for a 40M raw file?

 

[LukeP_Photo]

I am having major performance issues with Prime and above (XD, XD2) NR features of DxO PL8 (Macbook Pro - i7, 16Gb RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 1536 MB).

Would appreciate advice on how the DxO PL8 noise reduction engines for prime XD and XD2 perform on Apple Silicon and secondly, what minimum CPU/GPU configuration would give sub 2 minute processing for a 40M raw file?

Any of the current noise reduction functions of software like DxO PL8 or Adobe LR using their Denoise, relies heavily on the processing capabilities of the newer chips. As of late, you haven't been able to fully leverage the neural engine of the M silicon for noise reduction in either program so noise reduction is a bit slower than it could be. Still, it will be much quicker than what you are currently experiencing. Before upgrading to my Mac Studio, I was using my MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip, 32gb ram with the 32 core GPU, 10 core CPU and 16 core neural engine. Running Prime XD2 on my 45mb Nikon Z8/Z9 raw files, it was approximately 20 seconds per image. That was not taking advantage of the neural engine. When the program was levering the neural engine, it was sub 10 second times per image. Either way, upgrading to Apple silicon will be a significant improvement to what you are experiencing. There are similar performing setups I believe using PCs, I'm just not familiar with what specs you would need.

 

[Kazmarov]

Thank you very much for your response. It is very helpful!

 

[CAcreeks]

Thank you very much for your response. It is very helpful!

To be specific, an M2 Macbook Pro with 16GB memory developed a 40Mp image from X-T5 in under 5 seconds with DP3, and under 15 seconds with XD/XD2s. I expect conversions are faster with Bayer sensor cameras.

Yup, XD/XD2s of a 45 Mp image from Nikon Z9 took only 12 seconds.

(Although X-Trans XD3 claims to be in Beta, the button is grayed out. Aha, X-T5 is too new.)

 

[Kazmarov]

Thank you. I have been looking at the newer Macbook Pros and the Mac Mini so the information is very useful!

 

[Jacques Cornell]

I am having major performance issues with Prime and above (XD, XD2) NR features of DxO PL8 (Macbook Pro - i7, 16Gb RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 1536 MB).

Would appreciate advice on how the DxO PL8 noise reduction engines for prime XD and XD2 perform on Apple Silicon and secondly, what minimum CPU/GPU configuration would give sub 2 minute processing for a 40M raw file?

I've been reporting on DxO NR processing times with various Apple Silicon Macs in this thread.

My entry-level M1 MBA with just 8GB RAM did XD in about 30 seconds on 42MP a7RIII RAW files ranging from ISO 100 to 102,400. Apple's Neural Engine delivers huge bang-for-the-buck from modest Macs doing DeepPRIME (all variants).

My current M1 Max Mac Studio with 32 GPU cores, 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD is roughly 2x-3x faster, and I snagged it on auction recently for just $999. An entry-level M4 Mac mini probably wouldn't be far behind, but the Studio's extra GPU cores help a lot with Lightroom.

 

[Jacques Cornell]

I am having major performance issues with Prime and above (XD, XD2) NR features of DxO PL8 (Macbook Pro - i7, 16Gb RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 1536 MB).

Would appreciate advice on how the DxO PL8 noise reduction engines for prime XD and XD2 perform on Apple Silicon and secondly, what minimum CPU/GPU configuration would give sub 2 minute processing for a 40M raw file?

Any of the current noise reduction functions of software like DxO PL8 or Adobe LR using their Denoise, relies heavily on the processing capabilities of the newer chips. As of late, you haven't been able to fully leverage the neural engine of the M silicon for noise reduction in either program so noise reduction is a bit slower than it could be.

DxO has leveraged Apple's Neural Engine for DeepPRIME since the launch of Apple Silicon. I believe there was a period of maybe a few days or weeks when this broke and was then fixed with a prompt update. Adobe has had more difficulty. I've read that they used ANE for a bit but then had trouble and have been unable to leverage ANE in recent years, which probably partly explains why DeepPRIME XD2s runs almost twice as fast on my Studio than Adobe's AI Denoise does.

Still, it will be much quicker than what you are currently experiencing. Before upgrading to my Mac Studio, I was using my MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip, 32gb ram with the 32 core GPU, 10 core CPU and 16 core neural engine. Running Prime XD2 on my 45mb Nikon Z8/Z9 raw files, it was approximately 20 seconds per image. That was not taking advantage of the neural engine. When the program was levering the neural engine, it was sub 10 second times per image. Either way, upgrading to Apple silicon will be a significant improvement to what you are experiencing. There are similar performing setups I believe using PCs, I'm just not familiar with what specs you would need.

--
Event professional for 20+ years, travel & landscape enthusiast for 30+, stills-only.
http://jacquescornell.photography
http://happening.photos

 

[Zeee]

Just to add CA Creeks. I picked up a 2024 MacBook Air M3, 24GB RAM, 8 Core for travel and everything flies on it.

I'll likely be replacing my 2019 iMac Intel, 64GB RAM and 8GB VRAM with a Mac Mini this fall because my Air is faster at everything.

You probably know there are no more separate video cards with M chip. It's unified memory now. The amount of cores make a difference as well. Also Apple charges too much for storage for me. I get 512GB SSD for the desktop and typically 256 for the laptop. I keep all files on external drives. I got a 512 for my new MacBook Air because I waited to long too decide before I left on a two month trip. It would not arrived in time so I purchased what they stocked.

You may want to read this. I was helping him out a bit. A few lines from post #10

I’ve been a Windows user all my life. I owned and used the first three generations of Microsoft Surface and have relied on Windows laptops since 1994, starting with a Radio Shack Tandy. Since then, my personal computer has always been a laptop.

That said, the M3 MacBook Air blew my mind, and I can only imagine how powerful the M4 MacBook Pro would be.

https://rfshooters.com/threads/dxo-pureraw-in-a-macbook-pro-m2-update-ended-to-be-a-m3.5072/

--
Not my circus. Not my monkeys.

 

[Kazmarov]

Thank you Jacques.

 

[Kazmarov]

Oh I would'nt like my long serving veteran to go up in smoke!

Thank you for the information on the MBA and the Studio. The Studio is beyond my reach but the MBA, MBP and Mini are within. Your thread reference is also appreciated - I wonder why it didnt show up when I did my thread search on DxO - cest la vie!

 

[Kazmarov]

Thanks Zeee. I have just been looking at the MBA's and they look good!

 

[Zeee]

Thanks Zeee. I have just been looking at the MBA's and they look good!

I had a 2020 M1, 16GB RAM with a 13” screen. Even it was faster than my iMac at almost everything.

I’m getting older and I found the 13” screen harder to work with, especially using a 27” screen most of the time.

The main reason that I got the new one was for screen size. It’s a 15”. I could not believe how much difference that made.

 

[Jacques Cornell]

Just to add CA Creeks. I picked up a 2024 MacBook Air M3, 24GB RAM, 8 Core for travel and everything flies on it.

I'll likely be replacing my 2019 iMac Intel, 64GB RAM and 8GB VRAM with a Mac Mini this fall because my Air is faster at everything.

You probably know there are no more separate video cards with M chip. It's unified memory now. The amount of cores make a difference as well. Also Apple charges too much for storage for me. I get 512GB SSD for the desktop and typically 256 for the laptop.

That has been my approach, as well. However, although I keep my internal storage lean, I found my 512GB mini/Studio SSDs with only about 150GB free, partly because my iPad and iPhone backups were hogging space. I freed up about 80GB by moving my Photos library to external. Even so, I'm more comfortable now having 1TB+ internal for my desktop Mac and 512GB for my laptop.

I keep all files on external drives. I got a 512 for my new MacBook Air because I waited to long too decide before I left on a two month trip. It would not arrived in time so I purchased what they stocked.

You may want to read this. I was helping him out a bit. A few lines from post #10

I’ve been a Windows user all my life. I owned and used the first three generations of Microsoft Surface and have relied on Windows laptops since 1994, starting with a Radio Shack Tandy. Since then, my personal computer has always been a laptop.

That said, the M3 MacBook Air blew my mind, and I can only imagine how powerful the M4 MacBook Pro would be.

https://rfshooters.com/threads/dxo-pureraw-in-a-macbook-pro-m2-update-ended-to-be-a-m3.5072/

 

[Zeee]

Just to add CA Creeks. I picked up a 2024 MacBook Air M3, 24GB RAM, 8 Core for travel and everything flies on it.

I'll likely be replacing my 2019 iMac Intel, 64GB RAM and 8GB VRAM with a Mac Mini this fall because my Air is faster at everything.

You probably know there are no more separate video cards with M chip. It's unified memory now. The amount of cores make a difference as well. Also Apple charges too much for storage for me. I get 512GB SSD for the desktop and typically 256 for the laptop.

That has been my approach, as well. However, although I keep my internal storage lean, I found my 512GB mini/Studio SSDs with only about 150GB free, partly because my iPad and iPhone backups were hogging space. I freed up about 80GB by moving my Photos library to external. Even so, I'm more comfortable now having 1TB+ internal for my desktop Mac and 512GB for my laptop.

Yes. My drives are usually no more than ½ full. I always Keep in mind to maintain at least have 100GB of free space.

I keep all files on external drives. I got a 512 for my new MacBook Air because I waited to long too decide before I left on a two month trip. It would not arrived in time so I purchased what they stocked.

You may want to read this. I was helping him out a bit. A few lines from post #10

I’ve been a Windows user all my life. I owned and used the first three generations of Microsoft Surface and have relied on Windows laptops since 1994, starting with a Radio Shack Tandy. Since then, my personal computer has always been a laptop.

That said, the M3 MacBook Air blew my mind, and I can only imagine how powerful the M4 MacBook Pro would be.

https://rfshooters.com/threads/dxo-pureraw-in-a-macbook-pro-m2-update-ended-to-be-a-m3.5072/

--
Event professional for 20+ years, travel & landscape enthusiast for 30+, stills-only.
http://jacquescornell.photography
http://happening.photos

--
Not my circus. Not my monkeys.

 

[Zeee]

Just to add CA Creeks. I picked up a 2024 MacBook Air M3, 24GB RAM, 8 Core for travel and everything flies on it.

I'll likely be replacing my 2019 iMac Intel, 64GB RAM and 8GB VRAM with a Mac Mini this fall because my Air is faster at everything.

You probably know there are no more separate video cards with M chip. It's unified memory now. The amount of cores make a difference as well. Also Apple charges too much for storage for me. I get 512GB SSD for the desktop and typically 256 for the laptop.

That has been my approach, as well. However, although I keep my internal storage lean, I found my 512GB mini/Studio SSDs with only about 150GB free, partly because my iPad and iPhone backups were hogging space. I freed up about 80GB by moving my Photos library to external. Even so, I'm more comfortable now having 1TB+ internal for my desktop Mac and 512GB for my laptop.

Yes. My drives are usually no more than ½ full. I always Keep in mind to maintain at least have 100GB of free space.

Actually because my MacBook Air is now 500GB this was the first time I ever kept my files on it. I still backed up to an external drive. I transfer files to my powered 8TB desktop spinner when I get home.

I keep all files on external drives. I got a 512 for my new MacBook Air because I waited to long too decide before I left on a two month trip. It would not arrived in time so I purchased what they stocked.

You may want to read this. I was helping him out a bit. A few lines from post #10

I’ve been a Windows user all my life. I owned and used the first three generations of Microsoft Surface and have relied on Windows laptops since 1994, starting with a Radio Shack Tandy. Since then, my personal computer has always been a laptop.

That said, the M3 MacBook Air blew my mind, and I can only imagine how powerful the M4 MacBook Pro would be.

https://rfshooters.com/threads/dxo-pureraw-in-a-macbook-pro-m2-update-ended-to-be-a-m3.5072/

 

[StephaneB]

Any Apple Mx CPU will give you more than enough performance. DXO DeepPrime uses the Neural Engine, which has no equivalent on Intel CPUs. With the Neural Engine, DeepPrime takes a few seconds.

A Mac Mini M4 in its base configuration is a formidable machine for photo editing.

 

[Zeee]

Any Apple Mx CPU will give you more than enough performance. DXO DeepPrime uses the Neural Engine, which has no equivalent on Intel CPUs. With the Neural Engine, DeepPrime takes a few seconds.

That was what I was summarizing. Can't really go wrong. Thanks for confirming.

A Mac Mini M4 in its base configuration is a formidable machine for photo editing.

That is likely what I will go with.

 

[Jacques Cornell]

Any Apple Mx CPU will give you more than enough performance. DXO DeepPrime uses the Neural Engine, which has no equivalent on Intel CPUs. With the Neural Engine, DeepPrime takes a few seconds.

That was what I was summarizing. Can't really go wrong. Thanks for confirming.

A Mac Mini M4 in its base configuration is a formidable machine for photo editing.

That is likely what I will go with.

The $799 M4 mini with 16GB RAM represents good value. Still, I chose a used M1 Max Studio with 32 GPU cores, 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD for $999, the same price as a new M4 mini with 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD. Here are the Geekbench scores:

https://www.macworld.com/article/55...pro-max-ultra-iphone-ipad-mac-benchmarks.html

Multi-core

• M4 14,763
• Studio 12,105

Compute

• M4 57,082
• Studio 118,168

 

[Zeee]

Any Apple Mx CPU will give you more than enough performance. DXO DeepPrime uses the Neural Engine, which has no equivalent on Intel CPUs. With the Neural Engine, DeepPrime takes a few seconds.

That was what I was summarizing. Can't really go wrong. Thanks for confirming.

A Mac Mini M4 in its base configuration is a formidable machine for photo editing.

That is likely what I will go with.

The $799 M4 mini with 16GB RAM represents good value. Still, I chose a used M1 Max Studio with 32 GPU cores, 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD for $999, the same price as a new M4 mini with 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD. Here are the Geekbench scores:

https://www.macworld.com/article/55...pro-max-ultra-iphone-ipad-mac-benchmarks.html

Multi-core

• M4 14,763
• Studio 12,105

Compute

• M4 57,082
• Studio 118,168

Thanks!

 

[MarshallG]

Oh I would'nt like my long serving veteran to go up in smoke!

Thank you for the information on the MBA and the Studio. The Studio is beyond my reach but the MBA, MBP and Mini are within. Your thread reference is also appreciated - I wonder why it didnt show up when I did my thread search on DxO - cest la vie!

I think the MBA and MBP have different CPU’s. At least, you can get an MBP with an M4 Pro chip. MBP also has a fan, which allows it to run faster when it heats up.